Broadcaster STV Group says it has made a “strong start to 2014”, with growth “slightly ahead” of expectations.

The Glasgow-based group said total airtime revenues in the first three months are up five per cent year-on-year, which is ahead of forecasts.

STV said national airtime revenues are up five per cent year-on-year and Scottish market revenues are up seven per cent on the same period a year ago.

In digital, STV said revenue growth in the first quarter was in line with expectations, up 15 per cent year-on-year, and revenues are expected to be “up 15-20 per cent” for the full year.

The group said in an interim management statement: “In the month of April we expect total airtime revenues to be up 18 per cent, ahead of our March trading update, and indications for May are for total airtime revenues to be up four per cent.

“This will result in January to May total airtime revenues being up seven per cent.”

STV said it will also launch new a City TV channel for Glasgow, STV Glasgow in June - the first of two new City TV services launching this year after securing licences by Ofcom to deliver City television services in Glasgow and Edinburgh.

In productions, STV said growth in the first quarter was in line with expectations.

Rob Woodward, chief executive of STV Group, said: “All areas of the business are continuing to perform in line with expectations against our updated growth KPI targets and we are excited about expanding our portfolio of consumer services with the launch of the first of our City TV services, STV Glasgow, in early June.”

Shares in STV Group were up 2.5 per cent in early trading on Wednesday.